There are rumors that the powers that be in New Orleans are trying to drive us away. At best we are called hipsters, and at worst we are called gutter punks. Our parades, collectives and businesses have often come under attack from the city government.

The most recent example is the silencing of live music at Siberia. Your paper characterized the business owners as "scofflaws" on the Aug. 8 front page. I would characterize them as new business owners attempting to navigate the labyrinth of New Orleans' municipal regulations. The city justifies its actions by saying it is defending quality of life and enforcing zoning rules.

Whether or not there is a conspiracy to drive anyone out of town, there is a perceived threat. But guess what? This is our home. We are part of the culture. Many of my peers own property and have families. We are not going anywhere.

The recent crackdown on live music has provoked us to do something truly shocking and disruptive: It has driven us to participate in local politics. I have signed petitions, attended meetings and registered to vote. I have learned that our elected officials aren't truncheon-wielding boogeymen (the cops are, but they just got their hats handed to them by the Justice Department). They're human beings who want to please their constituents. If they hear from us, they will realize that the Marigny gentrifyers' vision of St. Claude Avenue isn't the only way.

Politically, we grimy, counterculture folks tend toward being anarchists and libertarians, so we don't have many candidates to vote for. But we are now eagerly looking for people to vote against. If there was a plot against us, I believe it back-fired.